Switch



P 1944- H. w. GRAYBILL 2,359,105

SWITCH Filed March 6. 1942 1 III/1 wrmzsszs: I INVENTOR Howard 14/ Grayfizfl.

Patented Sept. 26, 1944 SWITCH Howard w. Graybill, wuumbm. 2a., alaignor to W ouse Electric a Manufacturing Company, Bast Pittsburgh, Pa, a corporation of Penny] Application March 6, 1942, Serial No. 433,552 I 17 Claims. (Cl. 200-48) This invention relates, generally, to electric switches and, more particularly, to disconnecting switches of the high pressure contact type. i

Many types or high cmtact pressure disconnecting switches have been proposed. and this invention is especially concerned with certain improvements in the type of switch wherein the out oi'high pressure engagement with said contacts.

One object of this invention is to provide a disconnecting switch of the type wherein a blade is pivotally movable about a transverse axis to and away from a position in proximity with a line contact and rotatably movable about a longitudinal axis of the blade into and out of high pressure engagement with said contact, with means for positively causing said movements to occur sequentially.

Another object of this invention is to provide a disconnecting switch of the type wherein a blade is pivotally movable about a transverse axis to and away from a position in proximity with a line contact and rotatably movable about a longitudinal axis of the blade into and out of high pressure engagement with said contact, with taken substantially on the line m-m of m. 1; and

Fig. 4 is a transverse section view taken substantially on the line IV-IV of Fig. l.

The sp cific switch illustrated embodying this invention may be mounted on any desired sup-' port, such, for example, as the channel supp rt 2.

The-switch proper is supported on a pair of spaced insulators l and rigidly secured on channel base 2 by any desired means (not shown), such, 3 for example, as by bolts or the like. A contact assembly 8 is adapted to be mounted on insulator 4 and secured thereto, for example, as by bolts II. The contact assembly 8 is preferably made of copper or other good. conducting material, and includes spaced contact jaws l2 and it extending outwardly from the base of the assembly and having the outer ends thereof flared to facilitate the entrance of a switch blade therebetween. Contact jaw I4 is preferably provided with a series of projections or teeth It on the means for positively preventing substantial movement about the longitudinal axis unless the blade is at said position in proximity with said line contact.

Another object of this invention is to provide a disconnecting switch having novel means for actuating the switch blade and controlling the movement thereof to open and closed circuit positions.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel type of disconnecting switch having a blade movable into and out or high pressure engagement with spaced line contacts.

These and other objects of this invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment thereof when taken in connection with the attached drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation view partially in section of a switch constructed in accordance with this invention:

Fig. 2 is a sectional view or the switch shown in Fla. 1 taken substantially on the line II-II thereof; w

Fig. 3 is an enlarged section view of the switch bladewith the blade support shown in elevation inner side thereof for a purpose to be hereinafter described. Contact assembly 8 further includes a laterally extending terminal pad It for the connection of a line conductor thereto.

A third insulator" is adapted to be rotatably mounted in a bearing 22 provided in supporting base 2 and carries an actuating crank 24 which may be manually moved to rotate the insulator,

or which may be connected'to remotely operated linkage mechanism. A blade and contact support It, generally of inverted ,U-shape in cross section, is adapted to be supported on insulators i and 20. Blade support 26 includes a base portion 28 and spaced sides 30 extending towards supporting insulators 8 and 20 and extended beyond base 28 towards insulator l. The portions of side" walls 30 extending beyond base 28 towards insulator l are connected at one side by a mounting plate 32 secured to insulator 6 as by bolts 34. The other side of the extended portions of side walls 30 are connected at theouter end by a contact supporting plate 38 having an integral stop flange 38 disposed between spaced contact jaws 40, also preferably formed integral with blade support It.

The switch blade 42 is adapted to be mounted at one end in a journal bearin 44 provided in the base portion of a generally U-shaped pivot supporting bracket 46. The pivot supporting bracket 46 is pivotally mounted between the .extended side walls 30 of blade support 26 on a pivot pin ll. Switch blade 42 is maintained against endwise movement in journal bearing 44 by a head 50 formed on the blade at the inner side of the base of pivot supporting bracket 40, and at the other side of bearing 44, the blade is provided with oppositely extending contact flanges I2 for cooperation with contact Jaws 4|, as will hereinafter more fully appear. outwardly of contact flanges 52, blade 42 i provided with a guide supporting block 54 secured thereto in any desired manner, such, for example, as by welding or the like. Guide block I4 is adapted to support a slotted guide It which may be formed by relatively rigid strap or rod material bent upon itself with the ends secured in apertures in guide supporting block 54, for example, as by'set screws 58. It will be noted that guide ll provides a slot including a transversely curved portion 80 formed on the arc of a circle having its center on the longitudinal axis of blade 42, and an end portion curved substantially longitudinally of the blade on the arc of a circle having blade pivot 4| as through an aperture provided in blade support 26, and this shaft terminates in a crank it for actuating the switch blade. Crank 68 is preferably associated with a connecting link 68 by a uniwith guide supporting block 84.

A compression counterbalancing spring Iii is provided within U-shaped blade support 26 to as- I sist in opening the blade. Spring It bears at one end on an integral spring Support lug 82 within blade support 28, and telescopically receives a supporting rod 88 at its other end. The supporting rod 88 is preferably pivotally mounted between the outer ends of U-shaped pivot. supporting bracket 46. As shown, blade support 28 may include integral terminal pad p rtion 88 for the connection of the other line conductor thereto.

In Fig. 1 of the drawing, the switch is shown in the closed circuit position. In this position, the flattened blade end 62, the largest dimension of which should be slightly in excess of the normal spacing of contact jaws l2 and i4, is positioned between these. laws transversely thereof so as to be in high pressure engagement therewith. Likewise contact flanges 52 adjacent the blade pivot have an extent slightly greater than the spacing of contact Jaws 40, andthese are positioned laterally between contact laws 40 so as to be in high pressure enga ement therewith. Accordingly, in the closed circuit position of the switch, the electric circuit may extend from one terminal pad 88 through blade support 28, contact laws 40 thereon, to contact flanges 52, thence through blade 42, and portion 82 thereof to con tact laws i2, i4 and terminalpad i8.

Now if it is desired to open the circuit, this may be accomplished by rotating insulator 2| to cause a downward pull on connecting link I! and a consequent counterclockwise rotation of supporting link it about its pivot 48. This will cause a pull to be exerted on actuating link 12 and,

consequently, tend to rotate the blade 42 through crank'll aboutthelongitudinalaxisofthe blade. This rotation of blade '42 about its longitudinalaxhiepumittedbycurvedportionllot guidellandwill,ofcourse,belimitedtothe extent of guide portion 64. This rotationmay be any desired amount, and its pu p se is to rotate the blade until end portion 0: and contact flanges 82 thereof aredisposed atanangletotheirw spective contact laws so as to release the high pressure engagement between these parts and permit the free removal thereof from between th Jaws. It should be noted that during this initial rotation of blade 42 about its longitudinal axis, portion I of guide 50 also positively psevents any pivotal movement of the blade about pivot 4| because the guide portion II is formed on the arc of acircle having its center on the longitudinal axis of the blade. At the end of this first movement, guide I. will have moved from the full-line position shown in Fig. 3 to the dotted line position wherein the end thereof is directly beneath guide pin ti on support 2|.w Whenthispositionofthepartshasbeenattained, further rotation of insulator 24 in the same direction and consequent further pull on actuating link 12 in the same direction, will cause blade 42 to pivot about pivot axis 4' to remove end portion 02 and contact flanges 2 from between their respective contact jaws. It should be noted that during this movementof the blade about its pivot 4|. it is positively prevented from rotating about its longitudinal axis because guide pin ii is then riding in. the portion of guide it which is in a plane parallel with the blade and is curved solely on the are of a circle having its center about blade pivot 4l. Consequently, during the part of the blade move-' ment about its pivot 48, end portion l2 and contact flanges I2 thereof are maintained in the inclined position, preferably about .60 from the position shown in Figs. 2 and 4, wherein are freely movable into and out of the space between switch laws i2, i4 and 44, respectively. Accordingly, in a circuit opening operation, the switch blade is first solely rotated about its longitudinal axis to relieve the contact pressure between the contact portions of the blade and their associated line contact Jaws, so that thereafter the blade may be freely pivotally moved to s position spaced from both line contact law's while holding the blade in the angular position relative to its longitudinal axis at which it is freely movable into and out of the space between the line contact iaws.

After the switch has been opened, it maybe readily closed by merely rotating insulator 2| continuously in the opposite direction. This has the eifect of flrst pivotally moving blade 42 about pivot 48 toward contact jaws i2, i4 and 4|, while the blade is still held in the same angular position relative to its longitudinal axis because guide pin Ii isstill riding in the outer end portion of guide 54. This angular position of the blade permits the end portion 62 of the blade and contact flanges 52 thereof to be freely inserted between their respective contact Jaws into proximity therewith. At the end of pivotal movement of the blade about pivot 48, the blade engages stop flange II on contact supporting plate 30, and guide pin 8i comes to the end of the slot in the outer end portion of guide IO so that pivotal movement of the blade in the closing direction is halted. Thereafter conflnued rotation of insulator 2| in the same direction causes assaiosrotation of blade 42 about its longitudinal axis in a counterclockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 3, ora clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 2, to rotate the blade until end '2 and con-- tact, flanges I2 thereof are positioned transversely of their respective contact laws in high pressure engagement therewith. It will be observed that as this rotation of blade 42 about its longitudinal axis begins, the sharp side edge of end ii of the blade will engage between teeth I! oniaw ll to hold this edge of the blade relatively stationary and thereby cause downward movement of the opposite edge of the blade into high pressure engagement with law i2 with a wiping action. It will be noted that in the closing movement of wherein a blade is pivotally movable from a, position spaced from a line contact to and away from a position wherein it is in proximity with such a line contact and thereafter is rotatably movable about its longitudinal axis into high pressure engagement with the line contact, with means for positively causing these two movements to occur in a predetermined sequence. This segregation of the two blade movements permits obtaining a. relatively large amount of rotation of the blade about its longitudinal axis, all of which can be utilized when the blade is positioned in proximity to the aligned contacts to obtain the desired high pressure engagement of the blade with the line contacts. Furthermore, because this relatively large rotative movement of the blade about its longitudinal axis is confined to the blade position wherein it is in proximity with line contacts, it is possible to insure freeing of the blade from the line contacts so that it will be freely movable towards and away from-the line contacts to insert an air gap in the circuit. Furthermore, by the construction disclosed, the blade is always maintained, during pivotal motion thereof, at the position relative to its longitudinal axis wherein the blade is freely movable into the space between the line contact Jaws; thus, it is possible to eliminate jamming of the blade and failure to enter between the contact Jaws due to angular displacement of the blade about its longitudinal axis.

Furthermore, this invention provides a switch of the above type having a bridging blade cooperative with a pair of spaced line contact jaws, thereby eliminating the necessity for fiexible shunts at the blade hinge. Another result which is obtained by the switch of this invention, due to the large angular rotation-of the blade about its longitudinal axis obtainable when the blade is positioned between line contact jaws, is in the accentuated wiping action obtainable, particularly when one jaw is provided "with teeth, as shown in Fig. 2. This invention also comprehends certain novel supporting means for a switch blade and an'actuating mechanism and.

arrangement of parts whereby a relatively simple, yet efilcient, switch structure is obtained. In connection with the blade support, it is particularly to be noted that the support specifically disclosed provides a housing for the blade counterbalanclna spring as well as for the guide It,

1 particular embodiment without departing from the broad spirit and scope of this invention. Ac-

at least in "they closed circuit position of the switch.

Havingparticularly disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention in accordance wlththe patent statutes, it should be understood that the I invention is not to be limited to this particular embodiment because it will be obvious, particularly to persons skilled in-the art. that many changes and modifications may be made in this cordingly, it is desired that the invention be interpreted as broadly as possible and that it be limited only as required by the prior art.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a switch, a line contact, a blade mem mounted for pivotal movement to and away from a position wherein a portion of saidblade is in proximity with said contact, at least said blade portion being mounted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis for movement into and out'of high pressure engagement with said contact when in said position in proximity thereto, actuating means for pivotally actuating said blade member to move said blade portion to and away from said position in proximity with said contact, and rigid means positioned adjacent the pivot axis of said blade member to engage said blade portion separately from the engagement of so said actuating means and blade member for positively preventing substantial rotational movement of said blade portion during said pivotal movement of said blade member.

2. In a switch, a line contact, a blade member mounted for pivotal movement to and away from a position wherein a portion of said blade is in proximity with said contact, at least said blade portion being mounted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis for movement into and so out of high pressure engagement with said (mm tact when in said position in proximity thereto, and cooperating guide means fixed on said blade portion and on a fixed support, respectively, for positively preventing said rotational movement of said blade portion during pivotal movement of said blade member until said blade portion is in said position in proximity with said contact.

3. In a switch, a line contact, a blade member mounted for pivotal movement to and away from a position wherein a portion of said blade'is in proximity with said contact, at least said blade portion being mounted for rotational movement about a, longitudinal axis for movement into and out of high pressure engagement with said contact when in said position in proximity thereto,

I and cooperating pin and guide slot means on said a blade portion and a fixed support, respectively,

pivotally mounted for movement to and away from one position at which it is in proximity with said contact, at least'the portion of said blade member adjacent said contact at said one position of said blademember being rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said blade member into and out of high pressure engagement with said contact when said blade member is at said one position, means for actuating said blade member in a circuit opening operation to first rotate said blade portion out of high pressure engagement with said contact and to thereafter pivotally move said blade member to a position spaced from said contact, and rigid means adjacent the pivot axis of said blade member snugly engaging means movable with said blade member for preventing said pivotal movement until said blade portior is rotated out of high pressure engage ment with said contact.

5. In a switch, a line contact, a blade member mounted for pivotal-movement to and away from movement of said blade member in either direction when said blade portion is in said position in proximity with said contact.

6. In a switch, a line contact including spaced contact jaws, a blade member mounted for pivotal movement to and away from a position wherein a portion of said blade is disposed between said jaws, said blade portion being mounted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis and having one transverse dimension greater than the other and slightly greater than the distance between said jaws, and rigid means snugly engaging a part movable with said blade member for positively positioning said blade portion at an angle at least during movement thereof into and out of the space between said jaws.

'7. In a switch, a line contact including spaced contact Jaws, a blade member mounted for movement to and away from a position wherein a portion of said blade is disposed between said laws,

' said blade portion being mounted for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis and having one transverse dimension greater than the other and slightly greater than the space between said jaws, means for positioning said blade portion at an angle at least during movement thereof into and out of the space between said jaws, and interlocking means on one edge of said blade portion and'one of said Jaws engageable by rotative movement of said blade portion towarda position at which it is transverse to said jaws to prevent movement of said one edge relative to said one jaw and cause the other edge of said blade to have high pressure wiping engagement with said other jaw.

8. In a switch, spaced supporting insulators, a line contact supported on one of said insulators, an inverted generally U-shaped support mounted on the other of said insulators, line terminal means on said support, a switch blade pivotally mounted between the leg portions'of said support adjacent the end of said support nearest said contact, a second contact mounted on said support adjacent the pivot axis of said blade, said blade being pivotally movable into and out of engagement with said contacts, and counterbalancing means for said blade positioned within said u-shaped support at least in the closed position of the switch,

9. In a switch, spaced supporting insulators, a

thereof, cooperable guide means on said support and blade for controlling the sequence of said pivotal and rotatable movements, and said guide means on said blade extending within said support at least in the closed position of the switch.

10. In a switch, spaced supporting insulators, a line contact supported on one of said insulators, an inverted generally U-shaped support mounted on the other of said insulators, line terminal means on said support, the leg Portions of said support being extended in a direction toward said contact for pivotally mounting a switch blade therebetween, said blade being pivotally movable into and out of proximity with said contact, at least the portion of said blade engageable with said contact being mounted for rotational movement abouts longitudinal axis for movement into and out of high pressure engagement with said contact when in proximity therewith, cooperating pin and guide slot means on said blade portion and support, respectively, for positively preventing said rotational movement until said blade portion is in said position in proximity with said contact, and the portion of said guide means on said blade portion adapted to extend between the legs of said support at least at the closed circuit position of said switch.

11. In a switch, a line contact, a blade member mounted for pivotal movement toand away from a position wherein a portion of said blade is in proximity with said contact, at least said blade portion being mounted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis for movement into and out of high pressure engagement with said contact when in said position in proximity thereto,

. connected angularly related portions for posiline contact supported on one of said insulators,

an inverted generally U-shaped support mounted on the other of said insulators, line terminal means on said support, a switch blade pivotally mounted between the leg portions of said support adjacent the end of said support nearest said contact, said blade being pivotally movable into and out of engagement with said contact, and rotatably movable about a longitudinal axis tively controlling said pivotal and rotational movements, respectively.

12. In a switch, a line contact, a blade member mounted for pivotal movement to and away from a position wherein a portion of said blade is in proximity with said contact, at least said blade portion being mounted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis for movement into and out of high pressure engagement with said contact when in said position in proximity thereto, cooperating pin and guidevslot means on said blade portion and a fixed support, respectively, said slot having a portion concentric with said longitudinal axis to receive said'pin when said blade portion is in proximity with said contact, and a connected portion of said slot being concentric with said pivotal axis to receive said pin during movement of said blade portion toward cooperating pin. and guide slot means on said blade portion and a fixed support, respectively, said slot having a portion concentric with said longitudinal axis to receive said pin when said blade portion is in proximity with said contact, and a connected portion of said slot extending angulariy with respect to said first slot portion to receive said pm during movement of said blade assaios tion of said blade is disposed between said jaws,

said blade portion being mounted for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis and having one transverse dimension greater than the other and slightly greater than the space between said jaws, means for positioning said blade portion at an angle at least during movement thereof into and out oi the space between said jaws, and interlocking projection and recess means on one edge of said blade portion and one 01 said jaws, respectively, engageable by rotative movement oi. said blade portion toward a position at which it is transverse to said jaws to prevent movement of said one edge relative to said one jaw and cause the other edge or said blade to have high pressure wiping engagement with said other jaw.

15. In a switch, a line contact including spaced contact jaws, a blade member mounted for movement'to and away from a position wherein a portion of said blade is disposed between said jaws, said blade portion being mounted for pivotal movement about a longitudinal axis and having one transverse dimension greater than the other and slightly greater than the space between said jaws, means for positioning said blade portion at an angle at least during movement thereof into and out of the space between said jaws, and a plurality oi grooves on one oi said jaws, one edge oi said blade portion or a size and shape to be received in one of said grooves upon rotative movement or said blade portion toward a position at which it is transverse to said jaws to prevent movement of said one edge relative to said one jaw and cause the other edge of said blade to have high pressure wiping engagement with said other jaw.

16. In a switch, a line contact, a blade member proximity with said contact, at least said blade portion being mounted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis for movement into and out oi high pressure engagement with said contact when in said position in proximity thereto, actuating means for rotating said blade portion a predetermined amount when it is in said position in proximity with said contact, andrigid means positioned adjacent the pivot axis oi said blade member to engage said blade separately from the engagement of said actuating means and blade portion for positively preventing pivotal movement or said blade member during said predetermined amount of rotation of said blade portion.

17. In a switch, a line contact, a blade member mounted for pivotal movement to and away from a position wherein a portion 0! said blade is in proximity with said contact, at least said blade portion being mounted for rotational movement about a longitudinal axis for movement into and out of high pressure engagement with said contact when in said position in proximity thereto, actuating means for rotating said blade portion a predetermined amount when it is in said position in proximity with said contact and for pivotally actuating said blade member to move said blade portion to and away from said position in proximity with ,said contact, and rigid means positioned adjacent the pivot axis of said blade member to engage said blade portion separately from the engagement of said actuating means 36 and blade member for positively preventing substantial rotational movement of said blade portion during said pivotal movement of said blade member and for positively preventing pivotal movement of said blade member during said pre- 40 determined amount of rotation of said blade portion.

- HOWARD W. GRAYBILL. 

